%% Image removed per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1294377968086900100%% Please start a new thread if you'd like to suggest an image.%%->'''Harry:''' OI! There's a war going on here!\\'''Ron:''' ''(ungluing himself from Hermione)'' I know, mate... So it's now or never, right?-->-- ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows''

The LastKiss, except [[{{Dissimile}} it's not the last]]. But the characters don't know that. Death appears imminent -- [[SaunaOfDeath the temperature is rising]], [[DrowningPit the room is filling up with water]], the plane is about to hit the ground, the rope they're dangling from is about to break and drop them off the cliff, the room is on fire and the door's locked... The point is, this is no place for {{UST}}. The [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend Not-A-Couple]] don't want to go out without revealing how they really feel. It's now or never. They kiss.

This can also be Now or Maybe Never; one or both are heading into danger. Can result in a combination of FridgeLogic and {{Facepalm}} if the war is raging all around them and people need help ''right the hell now''.

Then the BigDamnHeroes burst in, save the day, and they survive to either get a RelationshipUpgrade (even GladToBeAliveSex) or insist ThatDidntHappen.

If one or both of the kissers don't survive, it's a LastKiss. If they decide to take it a little further, it's MustNotDieAVirgin.

A sub-trope of DyingDeclarationOfLove.

----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]* In the ''Manga/AkameGaKill'' anime, while [[spoiler:Mine]] is dying she confesses her love for [[spoiler: Tatsumi]] and kisses him.* [[spoiler: Holy Roman Empire and young Italy ("Chibitalia")]] in ''Manga/AxisPowersHetalia'' kiss as [[spoiler: HRE leaves the manor Chibitalia works in, not knowing if he'll ever come back.]]. They meet as adults ''and'' get together again, but whether [[spoiler: Italy's partner and boyfriend Germany and HRE ''truly'' are the same person]] is still foggy.* In ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', Jacuzzi gives one to Nice before they [[LetsSplitUpGang split up]] to take on the various train hijackers aboard the Flying Pussyfoot. They were officially "together" at the time, but neither of them had bothered to take it even to first base beforehand even after ''7 years''!* In ''LightNovel/CatPlanetCuties'', right before what they believe to be a suicide mission, Aoi kisses Kio, which prompts Manami to give him one. Elis, the catgirl, gets a bit jealous, and kisses him as well.* In ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'', Pip Bernadotte [[AlmostKiss attempts]] to kiss Seras during Zorin Blitz's attack on the Hellsing mansion ([[ForcefulKiss by getting her to close her eyes]]) just before they're hit by the main assault. She opens her eyes just before he manages, and is quite angry (as are his men, who felt that for him to get a kiss was unfair). [[spoiler: He manages to finally get one [[LastKiss right before he dies]] (helped by Seras being wounded and blinded at the time).]]* Kaneda kisses Kei in the ''Manga/{{Akira}}'' manga before he goes off to kill Tetsuo, taking her place.* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', C.C. kisses Lelouch on Kamine Island before they split up: him to rescue his sister from the clutches of an unknown new enemy, her to drag the other Knightmare Frame to the bottom of the sea and get both mecha crushed. Considering the overall state of affairs, they might never have seen each other again.* In ''Manga/InuYasha'', when Miroku's curse finally threatens to kill him at any moment, the only way to save him is by killing the BigBad, so before Sango leaves to fight him, she kisses an unconscious Miroku goodbye.* ''Anime/MazingerZ'': In the manga version of the "Mazinger-Z vs Great General of Darkness" movie, Sayaka kisses Kouji right before he goes off to fight the Mykene army because both think he'll die this time for sure.* ''Anime/SpacePatrolLuluco'': Upon getting poisoned in episode 8 and thinking she only has minutes left, Luluco decides to finally kiss Nova. [[spoiler: When they learn that the poison won't kick in for another sixty years, Nova immediately wipes his mouth.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]* In Franchise/XMen, Rogue kissed Gambit when the universe was seemingly about to be destroyed.* In ''Comicbook/KingdomCome'', Wonder Woman kisses Franchise/{{Superman}} before leaving to fight an army of rogue, violent super-humans.* Comicbook/SonicTheHedgehog gives Sally a kiss before leaving on a suicide run to shut down a weapon. [[NotQuiteDead He isn't dead]], [[HesJustHiding he's just]] [[RecycledINSPACE IN SPACE]]!* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' has done this some times:** In ''ComicBook/Supergirl2005'' issue #3, Kara decides she'll confront ComicBook/LexLuthor alone... but before leaving she impulsively kisses ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} "because if half of what they've told me about Luthor is true... I might not be able to do it later..."** And in issue #51 Kara kisses Mon-El as he flies towards Comicbook/{{Brainiac}}'s ship.* In ''Franchise/TeenTitans'', Raven did this to Beast Boy.* Franchise/{{Batman}} and Franchise/WonderWoman share one kiss on what they thought would be their last battle.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]* Subverted in [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6051938/1/The_Sealed_Kunai The Sealed Kunai]]. Right before they go out to fight [[{{Immortality}} Hidan]] and [[NighInvulnerable Kakuzu]], Yugito Nii kisses Naruto, then firmly tells him that it was ''not'' any sort of last act, and they ''were'' both going to survive.* Implied in ''FanFic/TheImmortalGame'' between [[spoiler:Applejack and Rarity]] during the climactic battle/storm; while it's interrupted before the actual kiss, they are described as moving closer after very brief (lip-read and unexplained to the reader) dialogue, then are very startled when the storm clears up and show embarrassment around each other for most of the rest of the story.* ''Fanfic/ChildrenOfAnElderGod'': In chapter 23, Asuka kisses Shinji and says that she loves him, just in case they die in the next battle.* ''Fanfic/NeonGenesisEvangelionGenocide'': [[spoiler:Rei kisses Keiko]] before going off to confront to Gendo for last time, just in case that she doesn't come back.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]* ''Film/{{Barbarella}}'': Barbarella kisses Pygar when they get trapped in the Chamber of Ultimate Solution, which will get them horribly killed in one of many ways since it's a suicide booth. They do get rescued.* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', Steve and Peggy kiss just before he goes to stop the Red Skull. This is also their LastKiss, since, while neither actually dies in the aftermath, the next time they see each other Peggy will be a grandmother in her nineties.** Amusingly, after doing so he turns and looks at Colonel Phillips:-->'''Phillips:''' I'm not kissing you!* ''Film/EdgeOfTomorrow''. Rita Vrataski grabs William Cage for a LastKiss when they're on a SuicideMission and (having broken out of the GroundhogDayLoop) know that this death will be the final one. Up till then Rita had avoided getting close to Cage or any other soldier, having experienced the pain of watching her friends die over and over again.* In ''Film/GalaxyQuest'', the two leads have one these towards the end.* ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Part 2'' has [[spoiler:Harry and Ginny immediately going for the kiss after Neville announces that he's going to tell Luna he likes her, because "we'll probably both be dead by dawn."]]** Humorously, Ron and Hermione's kiss is changed to a G-rated version of GladToBeAliveSex.* Both played and subverted in the same scene of ''Film/TheMatrix''. Trinity gives Neo a kiss as it appears the Machines have triumphed, only for him to revive from her kiss. At the same time, it's subverted because Trinity knows that they're not going to die just yet.* In ''Film/{{The Mummy|1999}}'', Rick suddenly kisses Evelyn while they're talking about Hamunaptra, when he first meets her while a prisoner in Cairo. Later on in the movie, Evelyn asks him why he kissed her, to which he replies matter-of-factly, "Well, I was about to be hanged. ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime."* Jason and Kelly in ''Film/MysteryTeam''.* In ''Film/NationalTreasure'', as the good guys (Ben, Riley, Abigail, and Ben's father) are heading down the creepy underground passages to the unknown dangers that lie below, basically as hostages of the bad guys (Ian and his goons), Ben pulls Abigail aside and kisses her.* Will and Elizabeth get a now-or-never ''marriage'' in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd''. In the midst of the big climatic battle, on board a ship in a whirlpool, they get Captian Barbosa to marry them as they recite their vows between sword blows and fending off opponents. They then manage a long kiss, while somehow managing not to be attacked by anyone. Even other crew members stop to stare.-->'''Elizabeth''': ''(After Will asked to marry her during a climatic battle)'' [[LampshadeHanging I don't think now is the best time!]]-->'''Will''': ''(Also fighting)'' Now may be the ''only'' time!** In the ''same film'' Elizabeth was given a now-or-never kiss by her one-time fiancé James Norrington, as he helped her with an escape then refused to follow, presumably parting from her forever. [[spoiler:He was- he gets fatally stabbed a few seconds later.]]* Averted in ''Film/{{Serenity}}''. As the final fight is approaching, Simon gives a solemn confession to Kaylee (that he regretted never having sex with her), which seems like it would lead to one last kiss. Rather than responding with a kiss, she cocks her gun and excitedly declares "To Hell with this! I'm gonna live!"* Han and Leia's kiss in ''Franchise/StarWars'', right before he was lowered into the carbonite freezing chamber and an uncertain fate.** [[spoiler:Leia's mother]] did the same thing! Padmé and Anakin kiss in ''Attack of the Clones'' right before they are led into an execution arena.-->'''Anakin:''' I thought that we had decided not to fall in love. That we would be forced to live a lie, and that it would destroy our lives.-->'''Padmé:''' I think our lives are about to be destroyed anyway. I truly, deeply love you, and before we die I want you to know.-->''(cue passionate kiss and dramatic swell in the soundtrack.)''[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* In Mark Anthony's ''Literature/TheLastRune'' novels, Beltan kisses Travis (who he thinks has previously rejected him; in reality Travis [[ThreeIsCompany has no idea he's even interested]]) while the former is mortally wounded. In an interesting twist, after Beltan recovers he ''apologizes'', saying it was a coward's move and a terrible position to put Travis in.* Exaggerated in the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'', where just as it seems that they are [[DrowningPit about to drown]], Luke asks Mara to ''marry'' him. They do kiss, but not 'til after they get out of trouble.** Played straight with Anakin Solo and Tahiri, who share a kiss in the storage locker of a decompressing space station. True to the trope, they end up getting rescued by Corran. Would likely have led to a RelationshipUpgrade [[spoiler:had Anakin survived the war.]]** Tenel Ka tried to give one of these to Jacen, but Vergere [[InterruptedKiss stopped her]]. And she ''lived through it''.* ''Literature/ATaleOfTwoCities'' - Sydney Carton gets one from a seamstress [[spoiler: as they go to the guillotine]]. Maybe it's not true love, but considering the circumstances, one could do much worse.* There's an element of this in Ron and Hermione's first kiss in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows''-->'''Harry:''' OI! There's a war going on here!-->'''Ron:''' I know, mate. So it's now or never, isn't it?* In ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle'', Paithan and Reaga are finally able to admit their feelings to each other when the tytans come for them.* In Elizabeth Peters' novel, ''Crocodile on the Sandbank'' (which launches her long series of ''Literature/AmeliaPeabody'' books), Radcliff Emerson, the dashing Egyptologist whom Amelia thinks merely respects and grudgingly admires her, realizes that either or both of them could be killed within minutes by the villain, and refuses to die without having at least kissed her -- passionately and at length, right on the floor of the tomb where they're hiding.* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' book ''Literature/ColdDays'' has a BigDamnKiss between [[spoiler: Harry]] and [[spoiler: Murphy]] based at least partly on this reasoning, though it was less the prospect of imminent death that brought it about ([[EverythingTryingToKillYou which they deal with on a practically daily basis]],) and more a determination not to miss out on a possible RelationshipUpgrade a second time.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':** Chloe does this twice, the first time on the fifth season, when she gives Clark a goodbye kiss before he goes [[spoiler:to face Zod]], and the second in the seventh season, [[spoiler:when she is stuck in the Daily Planet's elevator with Jimmy Olsen and a bomb.]]** Clark too gets in on this once more with Lois: [[spoiler:Season Nine ending, right before facing Zod and sending the Kandorians away in a a method that may result in him being banished to New Krypton with them. Lois asks 'the Blur' if he can ever forgive her for mistaking Zod for him and gets kissed, resulting in her figuring it out.]]* In ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', Sarah kisses Chuck when they fail to deactivate an artifact they thought was a large biological bomb, showing her true feelings for him for the first time. [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Cue incredibly awkward silence when the timer finishes counting down...and nothing happens.]]* Subverted in ''Series/StargateSG1'' when Jack takes advantage of a GroundhogDayLoop situation to kiss Sam just before time resets. No-one else remembers, but he does; fondly.* In ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}'' [[spoiler: Helen kisses Nikola just before sending him away while she stays behind to fight the bad guys and blow up the Sanctuary.]]* In ''Series/RobinHood'', Will and Djaq share their first kiss just before the gang faces an enormous army of mercenaries.* Nick and Claudia during episode 5 of ''Series/{{Primeval}}''.* In the ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' "Cyberwoman", this is how Owen justifies kissing Gwen.-->'''Owen:''' "Last kiss for the condemned man. Embarrassing given that we haven't been killed."** Also, Jack and Ianto have a desperate and passionate kiss in Day 1 of ''Children of Earth'' just before the Hub explodes.* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "The Lodger", this is actually used to save the day.-->'''The Doctor''' "No, not now, not again Craig, the planetís about to burn, for godís sake [[ThePowerOfLove Kiss The Girl]]!"* ''Series/TheXFiles''. Mulder goes back in time to 1939 and encounters a past version of Scully. As he's about to depart for the present day he grabs her for a passionate kiss "just in case we never see each other again." Scully being Scully (past or present) she responds by punching him.* Averted in ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''; [[spoiler: Dean]] wants to do this with [[spoiler: Jo]], who stays deadpan until leaving him hanging at the last second. [[spoiler: Not to worry, he gets to [[LastKiss kiss her]] [[DownerEnding the next day!]]]]-->'''[[spoiler: Jo]]:''' Sweetheart, if this is our last night on Earth I'm going to spend it with a little thing I like to call "self-respect" !* In ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', it looked like Tom and B'elanna were trying to, but the fact that they were in closed-face space suits running out of oxygen sort of ruined it. Their first kiss ended up being a ShutUpKiss instead.* Carter and Abby share one on ''Series/{{ER}}'', FINALLY, in the eighth season finale "Lockdown," when it seems that there might be a smallpox breakout in the hospital. [[spoiler:There isn't. And then he [[ShipSinking leaves for the Congo.]]]]* PlayedForLaughs in the ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' episode "Duet". Before the dangerous separation is attempted, Lieutenant Cadman (a woman) in [=McKay=]'s male body kisses Dr. Beckett (also male) "Just in case it doesn't work."* John and Aeryn have one of these in the final episode of ''Series/{{Farscape}}'', just before [[spoiler:being crystallized.]] Lucky for them, there was a miniseries.* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' ("Lovers Walk"). Although it [[YourCheatingHeart isn't their first kiss]], Willow and Xander start kissing after they're kidnapped by the vampire Spike and think they're going to die. At that moment Oz and Cordelia bust in on them intent on rescue, only to find their significant others kissing ([[NotHelpingYourCase on a bed, no less]]).* In ''Series/TheNanny'' Max and Fran kiss when they think the plane they're on is going to crash. Max immediately takes it back once the danger passes. HilarityEnsues.* In ''Series/MurdochMysteries'', Inspector Brackenreid convinces George Crabtree to "check his med kit" with Emily Grace before going out on a potentially fatal mission. Cue the kissing.* In the season 2 finale of ''Series/{{Superstore}}'', Amy kisses Jonah thinking they're about to die in a tornado. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheForceUnleashed'', a shocked Starkiller receives a kiss from his gorgeous pilot, Juno Eclipse, before he heads off to infiltrate the Death Star and save the other members of the rebellion. It is possibly Starkiller's first kiss, as he was raised in seclusion by Darth Vader, and also his last.* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', in the Forward Operations Base on Earth, if you romanced Kaidan he will grab Shepard for one of these. It's a rare case of a kiss being a TearJerker, since [[MultipleEndings in most cases]], it's their last.** Also applies to Ashley, whose goodbye plays out very similarly to Kaidan's, as well as Liara and Garrus in their respective scenes. * In ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChroniclesIII'', this happens between Kurt and either Riela or Imca just before they set out towards their final mission, with both girls dashing to kiss him before he can even get his LoveConfession out.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]* In ''VisualNovel/MetroPDCloseToYou'', Kirisawa plants one on the protagonist, along with a LoveConfession, just before they begin the climactic raid near the end of his route. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]* Just before going their separate ways in Azure City, Elan and Haley of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' share one so passionate and involved they have to be reminded they don't have time to start ripping each other's clothes off. This inspires a nearby RedShirt to ask his colleague on a date IfWeGetThroughThis. [[spoiler:Elan and Haley are split up for several months by the post-battle chaos, while the now-{{Mauve Shirt}}ed soldiers hook up and eventually get married.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Originals]]* Ron and Hermione's version of this in ''Theatre/AVeryPotterMusical'' [[RefugeInAudacity must be seen to be believed]].* In ''Literature/SailorNothing'', Himei and Seiki have this happen ''thrice''.* Linkara [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this during his ''WebVideo/HistoryOfPowerRangers'' series, when ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'' ''averts'' this. Andros and Ashley talk, with heavy emphasis that Andros will try to save his sister from the clutches of evil and might not come back and they stare at each other... Linkara flashes the words '''Kiss her, you idiot''' on screen.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', ''Far From Home'', [[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] kisses Brainiac 5 before going into battle against the entire [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed]] WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes plus GreenLantern which is foretold to lead to her death.* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': The fact that he's finally going to face the dreaded Firelord, and possibility that he might not come back alive from that battle, gives Aang enough motivation [[ShutUpKiss to kiss Katara]].* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': When Springfield thought it was TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt, Smithers declares "Oh, what the hell!" and kisses the love of his life... Mr. Burns.* The ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' GrandFinale ''WesternAnimation/PhantomPlanet'': With the possibility that he may not come back from the Ghost Zone let alone execute the last plan to stop an asteroid from colliding the Earth, Danny delivers a kiss to Sam (but not before she first triggered it with a kiss on the cheek).* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', Neil uses the threat of impending death to get a LastKiss from Meg, which turns into this trope when they're rescued by Hugh Downs. It hits the fan when he plays a tape of the kiss on local TV.* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' "Wishology" trilogy, Timmy shares a kiss with Trixie [[spoiler: just before sacrificing himself to the Darkness]]. Naturally, he recovers, but attempts at a RelationshipUpgrade [[AlmostKiss has other problems]].* Similar to the Simpsons example above, an episode of ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'' has the town thinking the world is going to end. Shriek takes the opportunity to kiss Dog (who seems kind of perturbed by it). After they live, she threatens him.[[/folder]]